She once told me, that the perfect wedding dress for any woman was one that was worn on its special day and passed down to someone that was loved by the wearer of it previously. She didn’t know if it was a word or not, but she said it was the passing down of a preloved wedding dress. Sometimes they had been passed down through many generations and that she wanted to pass down her wedding dress to me.

I hugged her and told her that I don’t know if she noticed but I am 5’9” and she was only 5’1”. I got my height from my father who clocked in at a solid 6’4” tall. She said that that wasn’t a problem at all, that the dress never fit the exactly the same on each woman who had worn it over the years and that all that was required was a good seamstress with hands that knew their job well.

The next day she had made and appointment to see a seamstress in town and it just so happened to be the daughter of the seamstress that had done the old family dress for her when she needed to have it fitted. She said that my grandmother was a little more round than she was in the middle and she had needed it taken in at the waist. Well the dress fit perfect except it came up to my ankles. The seamstress said that was not a problem at all and to come back in a week.

We came back for the dress in a week and it fit perfectly. It floated over the floor as I moved. My mom and I both cried and I felt special to be in the dress she once wore.

We all work for the same company and after being in each other’s faces all week we can’t wait to do the same thing all through the weekend. The three of us are closer than brothers and spend a lot of time outdoors.

If you had to pick which one of us is the most adventurous I think it would be me, although I known Troy and Scott would say its them.

One of our favourite outdoor activities is camping.

We load up the four-by-four and drive somewhere off the beaten track to find a fishing hole somewhere. We’ll spend the day dipping our fishing lines and after a hearty campfire meal we’ll settle down for the night.

The guys were up for trying something different so we strung them up in some trees and draped tarps up where we could for rain shelter.

The lightweight nylon construction means they take up far less room than our tents used to and nobody has complained about a bad sleep in the woods.

The lapping sound of the lake combined with the rocking motion of the Camping Hammock puts me to sleep quickly each time. I also like that we aren’t sleeping on the cold, hard ground which sometimes make me want to sleep in the truck instead.

I got the guys to try hammocks as a test and they liked them so much we haven’t pitched a tent since.

Over the centuries the birthstone for June has changed so if you have a June birthday, you can really have a couple of choices for what appeals to you the most as your birthstone. In the early 1900s, the June birthstone was pearl for most people, but some people used moonstone as the June birthstone. Now in the 2000’s, there are three stones that people consider the birthstone of June Pearl and moonstone still make the list, but now there is the addition of alexandrite.

Each stone is unique so between the three choices, usually every one seeking a June birthstone can find one that appeals to them. Pearls are so unique because they are the only gems that come from living ocean creatures. They also don’t require anything to be done to them to make them beautiful. They do not need cut or polished. The moonstone is unique because it displays a floating light, which sometimes appears as a star with multiple rays or as a cat’s eye. The moonstone is considered sacred in India.

The most common June birthstone today is alexandrite. It is also unique because it is like a chameleon that can change colors. Alexandrite appears to be a green stone in the daytime, but it appears to be a purplish red color under electric lighting (not fluorescent though). Alexandrite is actually pretty rare, so the alexandrite that most people wear is a synthetic version. Regardless of your choice, with any of these three June birthstones, you will have a beautiful and unique stone to display.

One of the nice things about knowing how to pick ties is that you can actually get ties for any Aussie male in the family – even those who are not yet teenagers yet. However there are some factors to consider before buying any tie for anyone.

First, what is the exact age of the Aussie who will wear the tie? If you are buying a tie for a young boy, you can actually have more leeway here. This means you can buy bow ties or regular ties for a child who has to wear a business suit. Some occasions may permit the child to just use formal button-down shirts without a proper blazer and then add a suitable tie. But if you will be buying a tie for an Aussie adult (check out http://www.tiehq.com.au for some ideas) then you may have to consider the circumstances before making a selection. For example, bow ties are sometimes considered too frivoulous for a formal gathering of adults such as a company anniversary or company meeting. The company may also have an unspoken dress code where some ties such as skinny ties are not allowed.

The big problem when finding the right tie for the right man or boy is choosing a tie that will match the apparel that he will be wearing for that special occasion. Even if you buy an expensive tie, it will not be appropriate if the garments are cheap looking or are already worn at the elbows and knees. One solution to this is to borrow a tie or ties then check how these look against the fabric of whatever garment the Aussie male has to wear. You can then buy a tie just like that one if it seems suitable.

Bow ties have traditionally been a male accessory which was worn instead of a necktie. The two ties may be interchangeable, but they have always had distinct functions.

According to historical information, the bowtie started out as a scarf worn by Croatian mercenaries. Its main purpose at the time was to cover the area left exposed by the shirt opening. The scarf tie eventually became a cravat and from there no one is really sure how it became a bowtie.

Bow ties have always been extremely popular among particular professions, such as attorneys, academics, politician and waiters. Many professional people wear bow ties simply as a way to avoid wearing a bothersome tie as it tends to hinder their profession. This is particularly so for the medical fraternity.

Bow ties have not retained their popularity over the years and for many years it was seen as an old-fashioned neck adornment. It has made a return to the fashion world and has become quite popular in the last few years.

You can obtain different styles of bowtie which require different methods of tying. Traditional bow ties were normally a longer piece of cloth which needed several knots and ties to complete the look. It has moved on from there to bow ties that are available ready-knotted. This type of bowtie simply clips onto the shirt collar. It may have a clip which is used to clip it onto the shirt collar opening. Some have a cloth strip that clips at the back of the shirt collar.

Bow ties are versatile and easy to wear (for more information, visit http://www.bowtiehq.com.au). It does not require complicated knotting and if you have no wish to knot your bowtie, you can obtain a ready-knotted version.

If you find yourself looking in your wardrobe and thinking that you may just have one too many fascinators, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. It usually starts with your first race day or some other formal event, when you first realise you should probably buy a fascinator to go with your dress. This is where you often make your first mistake, and that is buying a fascinator just to match that dress. If you do this, then every event after that (unless you wear the exact same dress to every event) you’ll feel compelled to buy yet another fascinator just for that specific dress. To avoid this, think ahead and buy fascinators that will match a variety of outfits and colours. Sticking with prime colours like black, white or red will mean that you can match the fascinator with a lot of different dresses in future!

Throwing a masquerade party seems fairly simple on the surface of things. Organise a venue, then send out the invitations right? Well, not necessarily. It’s really important to set some guidelines for the guests, so that they have some guidance when dressing and choosing a mask for the occasion. Speaking of the masks, there are two distinct types of masquerade balls you can have. An “open” masquerade ball means that guests can wear any masquerade mask they like, whereas a Venetian Carnivale masquerade requires that guests where a traditional venetian mask – which are stunning, but can be quite expensive. Make sure you know your guests well, and let them know clearly what your expectations are, and you’ll have a fun evening!

Gift time for my hubby is one of the more stressful times of my year, I never really know what special present to buy for him. Unfortunately for me, he doesn’t get into sports and has no major hobbies (unless computer games count!). This year was no different, in the lead up to his birthday I kept asking myself what on earth do I get him? After researching and researching I decided on a mens rings site that is Australian based. I selected a black titanium mens ring for his thumb and with a sigh of relief, he wears it every day so I guess he loves it (or doesn’t want to offend me).

The reason I loved shopping for a mens ring on their site was because they offered a lot of helpful information so I could determine what was going to be the best metal and design for my hubby. They also have a 60 day day exchange/returns policy so I felt really safe knowing if he didn’t like it, I could just simply return it. The biggest thing I noticed when shopping on different mens ring sites online, was a lot are really cluttered and hard to navigate. This site was super clean and the drop down menus basically handed me the perfect band. If you are lost and trying to find a gift for your hubby, dad or brother I suggest you pay these guys a visit, it will be worth it.

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly five years ago. She has battled long and hard against this disease. She is currently in remission and is coming up on a big anniversary against the disease. I decided that I wanted to do something really special for her to let her know she has my undying love and support against this disease. I could not be more proud of my sister and her strength.

I search everywhere for the right gift for her. I did not want to get her any jewelry with the pink ribbon symbol on it. She has tons of that stuff, and I wanted this to be unique. I didn’t want it to be constant reminder of the disease or her battle, but to be a symbol of her strength and my support.

I happened to see a claddagh ring in a jewelry catalog. I read that the infinity ring is supposed to symbolize undying love and promises kept. I promised to always be at her side when she needed me, and I kept to that promise. She promised me that she knew it wasn’t her time yet, and that she would never give up the battle. She has not only kept that promise, but she has persevered in the battle. I can’t wait to present her with an infinity ring on her big anniversary. I hope she loves it. And I hope more than anything that someday this battle is nothing but a distant memory for her and I.

I know that I am a bit unusual when it comes to trying out home remedies. I love to do it. When I find myself with a problem, I love to try to fix it the old fashioned way. I don’t know why I think they always knew how to do it better in the olden days, but I do feel like they knew more than we did about caring for ourselves. I know some home remedies are just plain wacky, but I have found some great ones that work. I also think home remedies are great because they are usually made from natural products.

Right now the problem I am trying to cure through home remedies is stretch marks. I have some on my lower abdomen as a result of pregnancy. They are not too bad, but I would like to get rid of them if I can. I have been doing a lot of research online and I have found several home remedies I am thinking about trying. Some of the ones that seem promising are ones that contain coconut oil, cocoa butter, vitamin E or aloe vera. I have seen some that make me scratch my head, for instance the ones that contain cod liver oil (I am not walking around smelling like that!), and drinking water (hello- I drink water everyday and the stretch marks do not change!). Some that caught my attention are coffee grounds and potato water….hmmm, you just never know what might work.

On a recent family vacation, I forgot my dental guard that I sleep with every night. I grind my teeth in my sleep at night. Not only does it cause painful headaches, it causes my wife to lose sleep because the noise drives her crazy. My dentist had me switch from the over the counter guards to custom guards because they provide better protection, are more comfortable to wear, and last longer. In a pinch, I can always go to a local drugstore and purchase an over the counter one.

When we prepared for bed the first night, I realized I did not have my guard with me. It was extremely late, and I decided I would suffer one night without out it and purchase a new one at the drugstore the next day. When I woke up the next morning, I was not only suffering from a headache put jaw pain as well. After the pain did not subside after a couple of hours, I contacted an emergency dentist who advised me to come into his office for an exam. The emergency dentist in Sydney discovered that my grinding had exposed a nerve in one of my molars and this was the source of the pain. Since the exposure was small, he was able to fill it with composite material and recommended that I follow up with my dentist when I returned home next week. He also fitted me with a mouth guard to provide me protection until I returned home.

Moccasins are becoming one of the biggest trends and you’ll spot many people wearing a variety of different styles. They’re now even available in slip-on form, which are great for when you’re lazing around the house, not that we do much of that at all, honest.

UGG boots are of course the most famous iteration in recent years, quickly becoming the hottest craze for many young women. They even began to infiltrate the men’s footwear section of many department stores. We’re not too sure about the male variety, as they seem a little too feminine for our liking. If you do like them, or prefer to look a little more girly, then by all means try this peculiar style out. We’re going to stay well away from them though.

The suede variety however, is much more trendy. They go particularly well with casualwear and especially with light colors. Blue suede moccasins are now the new blue suede shoes and we’re sure if Elvis was alive today he’d by a pair in a heartbeat.

There are now some hybrids out there too. Some have a zipper, while others implement Velcro. Heck you’ll even find mocs with laces! Yes, you heard us right. What’s clear is whatever your style, your probably likely to find a pair of mocs that’ll go well with it.

If you’re not too comfortable with suede or the other soft synthetic materials that most new types of mocs come in, then don’t worry, as there are still some leather varieties on sale too.

The C-string is a variation of the G-string that’s been gaining popularity in recent years. It’s been seen on the catwalk and some Hollywood celebs have been caught wearing this tiny piece of clothing. It’s a curved, ‘C’ shaped piece of plastic, which is held in place by tension. It sounds weird and many wearers said that it feels weird too.

It’s a little invasive at first, as it needs to really push in-between your buttocks to ensure that it won’t slip off. After a few minutes of wearing it though, you’ll get used to its presence.

It’s not as comfortable to wear as standard underwear or even G-strings, but it’s manageable.

The main concern is where exactly you would wear it. No matter which public setting we can think of, it’s a little too much of a risky choice in our opinion.

The only time we can justify wearing it is on a private or secluded beach in order to attain an invisible tan line. Other than that, we suggest that you stick to wearing the C-string in the bedroom.

We can’t deny its sexy appearance though; it’s a cute and exciting piece of clothing to wear and is sure to liven up any lingerie choice. Just make sure you don’t make any sudden movements though, as wearers have complained that it often slips off, usually at the most inconvenient of times no doubt.

Since the C-string is so small, even when compared to the G-string, it’s a great choice of underwear if you’re wearing a dress that shows your panty line.

You may want to donate the flower girl dresses used for your wedding to someone else for their wedding – but one problem could be that the dresses could have stains that are unsightly and difficult to remove. How do you solve this problem?

First, examine the stain closely. What fabrics in the dress have such stains? If these are food stains you might be able to remove them with a simple wash in mild soap (like dishwashing soap) right after the wedding. However, stains that have been on the dress for more than a month for example can be quite difficult to remove because they may have set on the fabric already. Some fabrics in flower girl dresses could also be very sensitive to stains so you won’t be able to remove those stains without damaging the dress itself.

If you find that the fabric stain cannot come out with the usual safe ways of removing stains you may have to remove the stained fabric itself then replace it with the same kind of fabric that is free of stains. This is a good option if you don’t want to destroy the dress if it cannot survive soap and water treatment. But you will need a great seamstress to do the fabric replacement successfully so that no one will be able to guess that you had work done on the dress. Dresses that have very large stains or that cannot be saved anymore may have to be thrown away.

If you’re thinking about trying a few party dresses but are not quite sure about which style to go for then read this guide for some helpful tips:

A great dress for summer months and hot evenings is a tunic dress. The tunic dress stops somewhere between the ankles and the hips. In other words they vary quiet a lot in terms of length. You will see many women wearing this type of party dress on the beach or at bars when the temperature is very high. Tunic dresses are often sleeveless but you may find some that have short sleeves. You’ll never see a tunic dress that’s full sleeved.

Another type of party dress that’s begun to grow in popularity is the bodycon. The word originates from ‘body conscious’ and the bodycon is a dress that’s extremely tightfitting. Many women find this type of dress very uncomfortable to wear. If you’re sitting at a long wedding ceremony or particularly lengthy funeral service than a bodycon is probably not the best choice to go for.

Another dress in the party dress world is the maxi dress. It’s the type of dress that’s readily available in most department stores. Maxi dresses have the most variety when it comes to style and color. If you’re looking for something extremely unique and highly individual, something that expresses your unique style, then you’re probably going to find it in a maxi dress style.

These are just a few different types of party dresses available, so go out there and start shopping!

Women are often daunted when it comes to picking the right cocktail dress. You can spend hours visiting the dressing room in your local department store, trying on hundreds of dresses in a poor attempt at choosing one that vaguely resembles a style that you saw a celeb wearing on the red carpet. Fear not however, as you’re not alone. With a few simple tips and tricks you can find the right dress in minutes and wow the crowd with your choice.

The key is to focus on your assets. Halter dresses are great to show off your neck, while V-neck and scoop neck cocktail dresses are a good choice if you want to flaunt your bust.

Choose a form-fitting cocktail dress to show off your narrow hips. Most form-fitting dresses will actually help create the illusion of a bigger bust because they tend to create an hourglass figure.

When it comes to legs choose a high-low hem cocktail dress. These have been around for quite a while in the fashion industry and are perfect for displaying your shapely pins in all their glory, without seeming too revealing.

Whichever style of dress you go for though, remember that your best asset is exactly that for a reason. If you don’t know what you best asset is, or you think you don’t have one, why not ask your friends and family. If you’re too shy about asking them directly, then choose a more indirect method like asking them what dress looks good on you.

Adult onesies are actually not new. They were popular during the late 1900s, but were not called a onesie. It was called a jumpsuit because at the time onesies were the outfits babies wore. The adult version of this baby outfit has become popular in recent years and is now available in different styles, fabric, colours and designs.

You can choose from a range of animal designs, with feet and with or without a hood. Onesies for adults were originally made with comfort in mind and this is the main reason for its popularity. The warmth and comfort that it offers has made it suitable to be worn as pyjamas.

Onesies as pyjamas are the ideal choice. Most people want the most comfortable clothing to sleep in. During winter you need something warm to sleep in and often socks are not the answer. They generally get lost somewhere in the bed during the night. Onesies with feet are the ideal outfits for this purpose.

Onesies for adults are available in a host of different fabrics. You can opt for cotton, jersey or fleece. The fabric of your choice will depend on the season you need it for. The warmer jersey and fleece are ideal for those cold wintry nights, whereas the cotton version or thinner jersey material are ideal for the summery months.

As you can see, onesies for adults are not only meant for cold weather. You can wear it in any climate and remain comfortable.

We’re all used to heading out to a local restaurant and wearing “neat casual”, but what are the rules of etiquette when going to a classier restaurant? Fine dining shouldn’t be something to panic about, but rather an event to look forward to. Wearing a chic evening dress or formal dress is appropriate, although you can get away with formal maxi dresses as well, but leave the overt flower print party dresses in the cupboard! While you can pull out your favourite little black dress, make sure it is appropriate for the evening, and if you’re going to wear a clingy dress, wear a g-string as well.

As for headwear, leave your fascinators at home, as headwear is not appropriate in any fine dining situation. If you have spent the day at the races, it’s important that you have a hat box or some other container that you can place your fascinator in so that it will be protected. Likewise, a heavy shawl or scarf is also not appropriate, but a light silk scarf is okay.

Jackets are also fine, but should be taken off when being seated (if you are with a gentleman he should do this for you). Most importantly though, make sure you’re comfortable!

It’s not always easy to figure out what to wear to a wedding, as different weddings have different themes and expectations. For the men though, it’s pretty easy. A suit and tie or bow tie, go easy on the jewellery (mens wedding rings are okay of course), and a fedora hat is fine too if it’s sunny outside, but leave the top hat to the chauffeur.

Women of course are a bit trickier. If you are in the party, then you’ll usually be told what bridesmaid dresses are appropriate by the bride (cocktail dresses are in vogue right now), and often match the flower girl dresses being used as well. For the groom’s new mother in law, finding mother of the bride dresses that suit can be a challenge, but you can now look online for a wider variety.

If you are ever in doubt, ask the bride what would be appropriate. It’s her day, and she’s the only one that matters!

Whenever I shop for evening dresses, I can’t help but get the feeling that someone out there doesn’t like me. I’m sure you know the feeling. You walk into a department store or a local boutique, excited about the idea of finally having a reason to dress up to the nines and look fabulous, only to find that in their “very” limited range, they don’t have the style you like in the size you want, or vice versa.

This is why shopping online for dresses like these has become so popular. Yes, there are other concerns like “can I trust the site”, or “what if it arrives and it doesn’t look good on me”, but most online stores these days have pretty good returns/exchange policies, as well as security. Once you’ve found a trustworthy store, you can get down to the good stuff. Firstly, you can usually immediately filter out anything that is not in your size, which is a good thing, because then you can’t be tempted by dresses that you can’t wear anyway. Secondly, as there are plenty of stores that deal almost exclusively with formal or evening dresses, there’ usually a much wider range. Problem solved? Most definitely!